Finding Fate

Hosting Strangers

"So, Angela," the Mayor asked casually, "Do you plan to stay here?" He asked.

Angela had debated to herself whether it was the right thing to do, during her whole journey to the island. Her brother had invited her to stay for a while, and get to know the other villagers, but she wasn't sure. Whilst she didn't show it, she knew her mother was more than a little upset that both of her children were a long boat ride away.

She shrugged, swooping down to pick up her suitcases. "Maybe, I'm not exactly sure." She answered, making her way off the beach, with the Mayor attempting to keep up with her fast pace. She'd learnt to do so in the city.

"Ah, well, I see." He nodded. "Isn't young Kasey meeting you here?" He asked questioningly, peering around the beach. Angela almost glared at him; the man was sticking his nose in other people's businesses! But she held herself back; since this was the Mayor she was talking too.

Angela shook her head. "He didn't say he would, so I don't expect it from him." She replied, dragging her suitcase across the sand, and leaving trails where the wheels rolled.

"But do you even know where he lives?" He asked another question, and Angela was so close to throttling him. She could find her brother herself. It was simple enough; she'd just stroll around until she saw a ranch. It wasn't exactly difficult.

But if she wanted him off her tail, she'd have to lie. "Yes, I do, actually." She answered bluntly, pulling her luggage up the stairs at the end of the beach. She saw the sad dogface from the Mayor, and she let out an irritated sigh. He even imitated a dog…

"I understand, well, have a safe journey! I hope you'll consider staying," He told her with a disturbingly large smile, before waddling off to the down the path.

Angela smiled to herself, happy she'd rid off him. She set off after the Mayor, on the only path forward, soon realising that the island appeared a lot bigger here, than it did on the map she'd sprawled on her bedroom's carpet back home. She kept her enthusiasm as she looked at her new surroundings though; after all, how hard could it be to find a ranch?

Her stomach rumbled loudly, as she followed yet another path. Her arms ached from dragging all her stuff behind her, and she could tell her hair was dripping with sweat. She was definitely getting a shower at her brother's home. That is, once she found it. Kasey had reassured her it was only a few minutes walk to his house from the beach, but right now, she did not trust that.

Angela had walked for at least an hour and a half, and she'd walked past a few houses, mountains of trees, and maybe a bridge. Being honest, she hadn't exactly been paying attention to that though. The ocean looked so much prettier from this island than the city, and the melodic tweets of birds singing had her in a trance. They didn't now, though, because she could begin to feel a cramp coming on.

Right on cue of her moaning, another house popped into view, with a large field, of grazing animals. She sighed in relief, having finally found her brother's ranch. She would have sprinted to the door, if she weren't so exhausted. When she almost reached the door, she took a moment to take in Kasey's achievements. She was pretty amazing he had managed to get such a large ranch running in only two seasons though. She loved her brother, but he was definitely a lazy boy.

She heard the door open, and she turned her head to the building. A woman with short, straight brunette hair, wandered out with a basket held with her arm. Her eyes fell on Angela, and she tilted her head to the side.

Angela was just dazed. Why… was there a girl in her brother's house? Her brother never had bothered with girls before, he had declared, with much stubbornness, if all girls were like herself, then he refused to even bother.

"Excuse me, miss, but are you perhaps Kasey's sister?" The woman asked, closing the gap between them with a few steps.

Angela stared at her curiously, but decided it was best to answer. "Uhm… I am." She replied.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," She told Angela with a cheerful smile. "He's been on about you for the last week!" She lifted her hand over her mouth to let out a little giggle. "I'm Renee, by the way." She introduced herself, holding out her free hand.

"Angela." She answered shortly, shaking her hand lightly. She wanted to ask why this woman, Renee, was at her brother's house, but she didn't want to sound rude, seeing as this girl clearly got on with Kasey.

"I know!" Renee giggled again. "Is there a reason why you're here?" She asked after a moment's silence.

Angela raised an eyebrow, wondering what Renee meant. This was her brother's house, where she was staying, didn't that say enough?

"Oh goddess! That sounds really rude…" Renee cheeks began to turn red. "No, what I meant to say was, did Kasey ask for you to buy an animal for him?" She asked Angela, with a gentle smile.

"What? No."

Renee turned redder than before, hanging her head in shame. "O-oh… Did you come to introduce yourself to my parents then?"

"Uhm… no?" Angela shook her head, really puzzled by what Renee was saying. She made it sound like this place was her home. "I came to meet my brother…"

Renee peered up, looking just as confused as she was right now. "But why would Kasey be here? He only comes here to buy some of our animals." She questioned Angela's words. Angela didn't understand what was going on. Why would Kasey only go to his home to buy some of his own animals?

"But my brother lives here." Angela said, glancing around the ranch. She couldn't see her brother though. "He does, doesn't he?"

Renee stared at her with confusion, and an awkward silence filled the air, as the two girls watched each other. Suddenly, she then let out a big smile. "Oh… I think I understand! You think Kasey lives here, right? But he doesn't: me and my parents, Hanna and Cain, live here. This is Horn Ranch." She explained, letting out a fit of giggles.

It was Angela's turn to blush. She felt the heat creep up her neck, even though she tried to fight it. "O-oh… I get it…" She mumbled an understanding, fiddling with her fingers nervously. Why hadn't she worked it out? Of course her brother didn't have a girl in his house! And she remembered him telling her he grew crops too. There weren't any crops in that field…

"It's alright, to a stranger this island must feel massive. You must have missed Kasey's ranch whilst staring at the ocean. I like to do it too, so don't worry!" She reassured her with a gentle smile. There was a silence, but unlike before, it wasn't awkward. That was, until Angela's stomach rumbled again, like earlier.

"Oh, you must be hungry! Come in, and I'll find some food for you, mother won't mind." She insisted, walking back to the door. Angela watched her with confusion. In the city, you didn't offer strangers food just because they were hungry. She hadn't expected to get food until she got to her brother's. Plus, it felt awkward accepting food from someone you met a few minutes ago.

Renee had opened her door already, and gestured Angela to come over, after she realised she hadn't followed her. "Come on!" She called, whilst Angela grudgingly made her way down the path. If she felt guilty later, she could just get Kasey to give Renee's family some food another time. Because right now, there was no way she'd turn down food.

Renee's food had been delicious, though it did make Angela feel a little jealous. She'd never been very good with food, which she'd reluctantly told Renee when she asked if she liked cooking. The woman had generously offered to give her some lessons in her free time, when her father let her. Hanna had been very polite to her, though she found it hilarious when Renee filled her in their previous conversation. It had been enough to make Angela blush.

However, right now it was about time she made her way to Kasey's house, otherwise he'd worry, she'd informed the family. She thanked them for their time, and their food.

"Cain will give you a lift home, won't you?" She nudged her husband in the rib, which caused him to glare at her momentarily, before turning his eyes to her.

"Sure, sure." He agreed grudgingly. Angela felt bad that the man was being forced to do something for her, especially after she had invaded their afternoon, but she knew if she didn't accept, there'd be a high chance she'd get lost again. And land at another stranger's house.

"Would that be okay?" She asked warily, fiddling with her fingers, her eyes watching Cain. "I don't want to be more of a pain."

Renee shook her head quickly, with a bright smile. "Of course you aren't Angela. A sister of Kasey is a friend of ours!" She insisted, shoving Angela, along with her father towards the door. "Now come on, Dad!"

Cain let out a sigh, but turned his head to her. "It's this way." He informed her, wandering out of the door, and taking in the dark skies that hung over the island. Angela felt the soft breeze as she in turn took a step outside, and trailed behind him. The island looked beautiful with the light outline of the moon and twinkling stars.

"We're going to take the horse and cart, because it's quicker." Cain said, gesturing to the cart, telling her to get inside. Angela lifted a leg to clamber up, sitting on the floor on her knees. As she was standing up, Cain wandered to the front of the cart, climbing on top of the horse.

Angela had never travelled by horse before. Though technically, she still hadn't. It wasn't that she wasn't interested, because she definitely was. It just seemed like in the city, they didn't have time for horse riding, or she didn't have the time in her schedule. Which basically was just hanging around with her friends.

"So, you're from the city too?" Cain asked out of the blue, without turning his head. Not that Angela wanted him too, whilst the horse did have eyes of its own, that didn't mean it could tell which way it was meant to go.

Angela nodded, but realised he couldn't see that, and spoke her response. "Yeah… it's not very interesting there."

"I've been there a couple of times, to get some cattle. It's not all that bad."

"Hm… different people like different things." Angela answered to his unexpected reply. She hadn't expected a countryman, such as himself, to compliment the city. She, a city girl, hadn't really liked it herself.

"That's where you'd be right, young lady." He agreed. She felt the cart begin to slow. "We're at your brother's now. I think he's still awake, his light's still on."

"He probably is, he always stayed up late in the city." Angela told Cain with a grateful smile. "Well, thank you for giving me a lift." She said, then waved as he drove the horse and cart off into the distance.

She took a moment to take in her actual new home. There were a few patches of crops growing, scattered over the field, whilst there was a barn at the far end. This was more like it, she knew her brother couldn't achieve too much in two seasons.

"Angela! Finally!" She jumped in fright, her head twisting behind her. A man that looked like her brother, but slightly different from what she remembered, was running up to her with relief on his face.

He stopped just in front of her, and she took his appearance in. He definitely had a tan, that was undeniable. But that wasn't it. He'd had a haircut, clearly, because his hair was shorter than his head had been last time he was at home.

"Where were you? Hamilton told me you arrived hours ago!" He complained, whacking her shoulder lightly. "You had me really worried…"

Angela raised an eyebrow. "But you didn't go out to look for me?" She asked, crossing her arms. "Thanks, Kas."

Kasey raised his arms up in protest. "Sorry, I forgot…" He mumbled, a little embarrassed with himself. Angela glared at him. He forgot she was coming? That was worse than her getting him worried!

"So how did you know I was here?" Angela questioned him, after a moment of thinking.

Kasey bit his lip. "Hamilton came by, to see if you'd settled in yet…"

"Ew, ew, ew! That stalker came here?" She groaned, pulling a face. If she could, she'd definitely throttle that Mayor right now. Couldn't he give her some space?

Kasey rolled his eyes. "Angie, you can't say that, he's the Mayor." He told her strictly.

Angela huffed. "If he follows me one more time, Kasey, I swear." It was typical that Kasey was on the other side than her. He had always done that as kids just to irritate her. The island had changed his looks, but nothing could change his personality.

"Fine, fine. Then you can throttle him," Kasey chuckled, ruffling her hair with his hand. Angela failed to see anything amusing about what he'd said, but she decided just to leave it. "That's my little sister."

"Hey… shut up."

Note: Is Kasey the name of the boy in Animal Parade? I wasn't sure, and I did try to find out, but all I came up with was Kasey. And I hope this meets people's personality. I don't actually own Animal Parade, kind of embarrassing, but I really wanted to write a story with these characters. Okay, finally, tell me if you find any mistakes.